A Sketcli df tlie 

'ISTORY of OITEOITTA 



D. M. CAMPBELL, 



%e'0 o o| fe p © O'O op G © O O'O © 0|0P O P, 






H WHOLESJILE N- 



AND SEEDS. 

Chestnut Street, 



O 0' 0! ©, © 0. op p Ol 0:0 P |0 O; P'O O P, ©JJI 



Mendel Brothers, 

MAIN STREET, 
Oneonta, IV. "VT, 



^eadjr-Jifade Clothing, 
FUMKISHIN© ©OOBS^ 

TRUfSJRAVELlf BAGS, HATS, CAPS, 



THE LONGEST ESTABLISHED MERCANTLLE 
HOUSE IN TOWN. 



A SKETCH 



OF THE 



History of Oneonta 



BY DUDLEY M. CAMPBELL. 






ONEONTA, N. Y.: 
Herald and Democrat Office, 






Copyrighted, 

1883, 

BY D. M. CAMPBELL. 



Preface. 



TN the preparation of the following pages, I have 
^ not attempted to give a complete history of the 
town of Oueonta. My main object has been to 
put into a more preservative form some of the facts 
that have been derived from the recollection of the 
older inhabitants as well as from family papers, 
which, in the lapse of time, would be forgotten 
and lost to the public. This is not so much a his- 
tory as it is a sketch of history, but it may be 
made a beginning of a more pretentious historical 
work. I have endeavored to make it trustworthy, 
and in my efforts in this direction, I have not relied 
upon any information pretended to be conveyed in 
the recently published large " History of Otsego 
County," which is better known as a voluminous 
compilation of gross inaccuracies in which are trans- 
mitted to future times the names of the good and 
bad, equally bespattered with praise. 

If the names of any of the older settlers have 
not received deserved mention, the omission is due 
to the fact that their representatives or those hav- 
ing information to give, have withheld or neglected 
to furnish facts which they alone could furnish. . 

D. M. c. 

Oneonta, A2:)r{l, 1883. 



CHAPTER I. 

^HE territory comprised within the present boun- 
daries of the town of Oneonta, previous to the 
war of the Revolution was little known except as 
the scene of many a sanguinary conflict between 
different Indian tribes which contended with each 
other for its possession. The Dela wares, whose 
home was on the river bearing their name, had 
been in peaceful possession of the upper Susque- 
hanna valley from time immemorial ; but long be- 
fore the outbreak of hostilities between England 
and her trans- Atlantic colonies, the Tnscaroras, a 
warlike tribe from Virginia, wandered up the 
Susquehanna from Chesapeake Bay and laid 
claim to the upper portion of the valley as 
their hunting-grounds. From that time, with brief 
and uncertain intervals of peace, up to the close 
of the Revolutionary struggle, the war between 
the contending tribes was waged with relentless 
fnry. Many a proud chief and valiant warrior 
fell beneath the tomahawk and became the victim 
of the merciless seal ping-knife. 

Eventually the strife between these aboriginal 
tribes terminated in favor of the invaders, or Tus- 



6 THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 

caroras, who thereupon allied themselves with the 
Six Nations occupying the more northern and 
western portions of the state. They formed small 
settlements, one within the present town of Oneonta, 
at the mouth of the Otego creek, and another at or 
near the mouth of the Charlotte. The former was 
on the farm now owned and occupied by Andrew 
Van Woert; the other on what is known as the 
Island on the farm of James W. Jenks. At both 
these places Indian utensils and implements of 
war have been found in large numbers ; at both, 
Indian orchards of some extent were standing a 
few years ago. 

These Indian settlements were destroyed by a 
detachment of American troops under Gen. Sulli- 
van, who passed down the river from Cooperstown 
in the summer of 1779. Making a dam across the 
outlet of the lake, Sullivan succeeded in causing 
the water of the lake to rise considerably above 
the common level, when by removing the dam the 
stream was greatly swollen, and upon its cur- 
rent the colonial force, numbering about 1,000 
men, was borne down the valley. It is related 
that the natives had become terrified at the sudden 
diminution of the water of the river and had fled 
in great haste from their homes, leaving the way 
unobstructed for the safe advance of the patriot 
force. Between the source of the stream and Una- 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 7 

dilla, it is supposed that but few Indian orchards, 
cornfields or huts were left standing near the river. 
At the mouth of the Schenevus creek, a notable ex- 
ception was made in favor of the Van Valkenburg 
family, residing then on the old Deitz farm across 
the river to the east of CoUiersville, where now 
may be seen a number of ancient apple trees of 
Indian planting, still in a vigorous and fruitful 
condition. This Van Valkenburg family being 
half-breeds and friendly to the American cause, 
their property and possessions were not molested. 

Sullivan's passage down the stream was effected 
by means of batteaux and strong rafts, and owing 
to the windings of the channel, and the necessary 
army luggage, his progress, notwithstanding the 
increased volume of water that bore his barks 
along, was somewhat slow. 

Unopposed by an enemy, through a country 
marked with rare beauty of scenery, 
' -Each boatman bending to his oar, 
With measured sweep the bm'den bore," 

and with the advance of this small l)ut daring pa- 
triot force, the Susquehanna valley ceased to be 
the permanent abiding: place of the red men. A 
few scattered representatives of the once proud 
Tuscaroras and Oneidas built their temporary 
wigwams where convenience suggested, and derived 
such subsistence as the chase and stream afforded, 



6 THE HISTOEY OF ONEONTA. 

but they were no longer a terror to the settlers. 

In the expeditions sent out to the southwestward 
from Albany, and likewise in the marauding expe- 
ditions of the savages against the frontier settle- 
ments along the Schoharie, the Susquehanna val- 
ley, wherein is situated the village of Oneonta, be- 
came the common highway to both parties. The 
old Indian trail, it has been ascertained, from the 
Schoharie fort to the west, passed down the Scheu- 
evus creek to its mouth, there crossed the Susque- 
hanna, and continued down the northwest side of 
the stream, passed through the village of Oneonta 
nearly along the line of Main-st., thence crossing 
the river near the lower end*of the village, it con- 
tinued westward on the south side of the stream 
for some distance down the river, on toward the 
Chemung and the fort at Oswego. There was 
also another trail leading from Schoharie to Har- 
persfield and thence down the Charlotte creek to 
the Susquehanna. 

" We had gone on about ten miles farther which 
l)r ought us as low down as where Collier's bridge 
now crosses the river. Here we imagined that 
the Indians were possibly as cunning as ourselves, 
and would doubtless take the more obscure way 
and endeavor to meet us on the east side. On 
which account we waded the stream and struck 
into the woods crossing the Indian path, toward a 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 



place now called Craft-town." (Priest's Collection 
of Stories of the Revolntion, })ublislied in 1836. 
" McKeon's Sconts in Otsego County.") 

On the high ground, a little distance beyond the 
soutliern extremity of the Lower or Parish Bridge, 
tliere has been found within the past few years a 
large ring, which from the inscription traced upon 
it, is supposed to have belonged to one of Butler's 
Rangers. This ring is now in the possession of Dr. 
Meigs Case, and l)ears upon its outer side these words 
and letters : " Georgius Rex ; B. R." It is sup- 
posed that the letters " B. R." are abbreviations 
for " Butler's Rangers." — " G-eorge, the King ; 
Butler's Rangers." 

In 1683 two Cayuga Indians gave the following 
geographical information to the justices of Albany 
regarding the valley. The quotation is from tlie 
Documentary History of New York, Vol. I, page 
393, etc.: 

" That it is one day's journey trom the Mohawk 
Castles to the lake whence the Susquehanna river 
rises, and then ten days' journey from the river to 
the Susquehanna Castles — -hi all eleven days. 

"One day and a half'vS journey by land from 
Oneida to the kill which falls into the Susquehanna 
river, and one day from the kill unto the Susque- 
hanna river, and then seven days unto the Susque- 
hanna Castle — in all nine and a half days' journey." 



10 THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 

" The Indians demand wherefore such particular 
information relative to the Susquehanna river is 
sought after from them, and whether people are 
about to come there? The Indians are asked if it 
would be agreeable to them if folks should settle 
there? The Indians answer that they would be 
very glad if people came to settle there, as it is 
Higher than this place and more convenient to 
transport themselves and packs by water, inas- 
much as they must bring everything hither on their 
backs. N. B. — The ascending of the Susquehanna 
river is one week longer than the descending." 

In 1684, the Onondaga and Cayuga sachems 
made an oration before Lord Howard of Effing- 
ham at Albany, from which the following extracts 
are taken. I have preserved the original spelling: 

" Wee have putt all our land and ourselfs under 
the Protection of the great Duke of York, the 
brother of your great Sachim. We have given 
the Susquehanne River which we wonn with the 
sword to this Government and desire that it may 
be a branch of that great tree, Whose topp reaches 
to the Sunn, under whose Ijranches we shall shel- 
ter our selves from the French, or any other peo- 
ple, and our fire burn in your houses and your fire 
burns with us, and we desire tliat it always may 
be so, and will not that any of your Penn's people 
shall settle upon the Susquehanna River; for all 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 11 

our folks or soldiers are like Wolfs in the Woods, 
as you Saoliim of Virginia know, we having no 
other land to leave to our wives and Children." 

In 1691, the governor and council of the prov- 
ince of New York sent an address to the king of 
England, from which the following extract is made: 

"Albany lies upon the same river, etc. Its com- 
merce extends itself as far as the lakes of Canada 
and the Sinnekes Country in which is the Susque- 
hannah River." 

It appears that the ownership of tfie Susque- 
hanna was the subject of no little dispute among 
the tribes composing the Six Nations.^ The Onon- 
dagas claimed the country. 

" At fifty miles from Albany the Land Carriage 
from the Mohawk's river to a lake from whence 

*From a record of a meeting of the mayor anda'dermen of Albany 
in 1689, the Onoiidagas are called Ti-onondages. 

In ail old ma|) found among the papers of -ir Guy Johnson the 
Schenevus creek or valley is called Ti-ononda-doii. The prefix Ti 
appeals to have been quite common among Indian names, some- 
times used and sometimes omitted. Doubtless On mda is the root of 
tlie v/ord Ti-oaonda-don. As the Oaomlagas had claimed the Susque- 
hanna country, the Indian etymologist might naturally inquire 
whether there was any kinship betwe-.^n Tionondaga, fionondadon, 
Onondaga, and the word Oneonta. His belief in a comm >n etymon 
might be somewhat strengthened by a quotation from a "Journal 
of What Occurred between the French <ind Savages," kept during 
tne years 1GJ7-58. ^See Doc. Hist., Vol. I. p. 44. .: 

"The word Ounota, which siguitiesin the Iroquiis tongue, a moun- 
tain, has given the name to the village called Onnontae, or as others 
call it. Onnontague, because it is on a mountain " 

Perhaps tlie word Oneonta may have the same derivation or a like 
derivation as Onondaga— perhaps not. The reader is left to follow 
up the query. Among the Hurons who had been conquered by the 
Iroquois, a "tribe is mentioned under the name of Ti-onnonta-tes. 
The name may have no relation to, nor any bearing upon the deri- 
vation of the word. Oneonta, bui that there was such a tribe, the fhCt 
is given for what it may be worth. 



12 THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 

the N'orthern Branch of Susquehanna takes its 
rise, does not exceed fourteen miles. Goods may 
be carried from thi- lake in Battoes or fhitt bot- 
tomed Vessels through Pennsylvania to Maryland 
and Virginia, the current of the river running 
everywhere easy without any cataract in all that 
large space." 

The last quotation is from the report of the Sur- 
veyor General to the Lieutenant Governor in 1637. 

The foregoing extracts appear to contain about 
all the information which the autliorities at the 
provincial capital could glean of the Indians con- 
cerning the Susquehanna country, as it was called. 

Tlie few scattered natives who remained here 
after the establishment of peace, were, in 1795, re- 
HHjved to the reservation at Oneida, and became a 
part of the Indian tribes already settled there. 

In volume III of tlie Documentary History of 
New York, a (juaintly interesting letter of the Rev. 
Gideon Hawley may be found. The letter is 
interesting, because it may be safely regard^^d as 
the earliest authentic writing respecting this por- 
tion of the valley. Mr. Hawley was sent out as a 
missionary teacher to the Indians. 

About this time a good deal of interest was 
being taken in the education of Indian youth. 
For the furtherance of this design, the Rev. Elea- 
zur Wheelock established a school at New Leba- 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 13 

non, Conn., for the education of young whites and 
young- Indians. This school afterwards ripened 
into Dartmouth college, and was removed to Han- 
over, New Hampshire. From this new-fledged 
seminary, the Rev. Mr. Kirkland was sent among 
the Oneidas, and his labors in that quarter event- 
ually resulted in the founding of Hamilton college, 
at Clinton.- From a similar school established at 
Stockbridge, Mass., and which appears to have 
been favored by the inlluence and good will of the 
celebrated Jonathan p]dwards, Mr. Hawley was 
sent to 0(iuaga on the Susquehanna. 

Oquaga was the Indian settlement near the site 
of the present village of Windsor in Broome 
county. Mr. Hawley's journey was from Albany 
up the Mohawk, across the mountains to Scho- 
harie, thence along the valley to Schenevus creek 
and westward." As his letter, in the form of a 
journal, contains the earliest account that is known 
of the presence of white people within the present 
territorial limits of Oneonta, I hope the quotations 
I make from it may prove of some interest. The 
letter is dated July Blst, 1794. The first entry is 

as follows : 

July 31st, 1794. 

" It is forty years this date since I was ordained 

a missionary to the Indians, in the old South 

Meeting House, when the Rev. Dr. Sewall preached 

on the occasion and the Rev. Mr. Prince gave the 



14 THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 

charge. The Rev. Mr. Foxcroft and Dr. Chaun- 
cey of Cambridge, assisted ui)on the occasion, and 
Mr. Appleton. 1 entered upon this arduous busi- 
ness at Stockbridge, under tlie patronage of the 
Rev. Mr. Edwards. Was instructor of a few fam- 
ilies of Iroquois, wdio came down from their coun- 
try for the sake of christian knowledge and the 
schooling of their children. These families con- 
sisted of Mohawks, Oneidas and Tuscaroras. I 
was their school-master and preached to them on 
the Lord's day. Mr. Edwards visited my school, 
catechised my scholars, and frequently delivered a 
discourse to the children." 

This quotation may serve to show what kind of 
man this early missionary was, and the deep 
interest tlien felt in the education and civilization 
of the aborigines. The formality with which the 
clerical harness was put on in the historic Old 
South Church, is strikingly in contrast with the 
way the missionary to the Indians is equipped 
now-a-days. 

In the following quotations the dates are of the 
year 1753. May 22d of that year, a party consist- 
ing of Mr. Hawley, Mr. Woodbridge, a Mr. Ash- 
ley and Mrs. Ashley, set out from Stockbridge for 
Oquaga. 

May 30th, 1753, a little more than a week after 
leaving Stockbridge, the party had its first view 
of the Susquehanna at Colliers. As the journal 
gives some description of our valley as it was then 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 15 

— one hundred and thirty years a<^o — I quote 
freely: 

" Our way was generally obstructed by fallen 
trees, old logs, miry places, pointed rocks and 
entangled roots, which were not to be avoided. 
We were alternately on the ridge of a lofty moun- 
tain and in the depths of a valley. At best, our 
path was obscure and we needed guides to go 
before us. Night approaches, we halt and a fire 
is kindled; the kettles are filled and we refresh our- 
selves; and we adore Divine Providence, return- 
ing thanks for the salvations of the day and com- 
mitting ourselves to God for the night, whose 
presence is equally in the recesses of the solitary 
wilderness and in the social walks of the populous 
city. With the starry heavens above me, and 
having the earth for my bed, I roll myself in a 
blanket, and without a dream to disturb my repose, 
pass the night in quiet, and never awake till the 
eye-lids of morning are opened, and the pene- 
trating rays of the sun look through the surround- 
ing foliage. 

" It may not be impertinent to observe that in 
this wilderness we neither see nor hear any birds 
of music. These frequent only the abodes of man. 
There is one icood-hird, not often seen, but heard 
without any melody in his note, in every part of 
the wilderness wherever I have been. In some 



16 THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 

parts of this extensive country, the wild pigeons 
breed in numbers almost infinite. I once passed 
a-n extensive valley where they had rested; and 
for six or eiglit miles, where the trees were near 
and thick, every tree had a number of nests upon 
it, and some not less than fifteen or twenty upon 
them. But as soon as their young are able, they 
take wing and are seen no more.'' 

The next extract is from the journal of May 
ijOth, 1753: 

" We were impatient to see the famous Susque- 
hanna, and as soon as we came, Mr. Woodbridge 
and I walked down to its banks. Disappointed at 
the smallness of its stream, he exclaimed, 'Is this 
the Susquehanna?' 

" When Ave returned our young Indians, who 
had halted, came in-, looking as terrible and ugly 
as they could, having bedaubed their faces with 
vermilion, lampblack, white-lead, etc. A young 
Indian always carries with him his looking-glass 
and paint; and does not consider himself as 
dressed until he has adjusted his countenance by 
their assistance. 

"Mr. Woodbridge and Mrs. Ashley, our in- 
terpreter, could not travel any further by land. 
We therefore concluded to get a canoe and 
convey them by water. From this place [now 
Colliers] to Onohoghwage is three days' jour- 



THE HISTOEY OF ONEONTA 17 

ney; and how bad the traveling is we cannot tell. 

" May 31st, [1753.] We met with difficulty about 
getting a canoe, and sent an Indian into the woods 
to get ready a bark, but he made small progress. 

" In the afternoon came from Otsego lake, which' 
is the source of this stream, George Windecker 
and another, in a small batteau, with goods and 
rum, going down to Onohoghwage upon a trading 
voyage. We agreed with them to carry the inter- 
preter and Mi. Woodbridge in their batteau; and 
bought a wooden canoe to carry our flour and bag- 
gage. 

" We soon saw the ill effects of Windecker's rum. 
The Indians began to drink and some of our party 
were the worse for it. We perceived what was 
coming. 

" June 1st, 1753, is with me a memorable day, and 
for forty years and more has not passed unnoticed. 
We got off as silently as we could with ourselves 
and effects. Some went by water and others by 
land, with the horses. I was with the land party. 
The Indians, half intoxicated, were outrageous, 
and pursued both the party by water, in which was 
Mr. Woodbridge, and the party by land. One 
came so near us as with his club to strike at us, 
and he hit one of our horses. We hastened. 
Neither party met till we arrived at Wauteghe 
[the name of the Indian village at the mouth of 



18 THE HISTOEY OF ONEOXTA. 

the Otego creek] at which had been au Indian vil- 
lage, where were a few fruit trees and consider- 
able cleared land, but no inhabitants. Here, being 
unmolested and secure, we all refreshed ourselves. 
But Pallas was the worse for his rum; was so 
refractory that Mr. Ashley's hired man, who had 
been in the canoe with him, was afraid. I reproved 
him; got into the canoe to keep him in order; was 
young and inexperienced ; knew not much of 
Indians, nor much of mankind; whereby I endan- 
dangered my life." 

In 1763, Rev. Mr. Wheelock made application 
to Gen. Amherst for a land grant in the following 
words: "That a tract of land, about fifteen or 
twenty miles square, or so much as shall be suffi- 
cient for four townships, on the west side of Sus- 
quehanna river, or in some other place more conven- 
ient, in the heart of the Indian country, be granted 
in favor of this school. The said townships be 
peopled with a chosen number of inhabitants of 
known honesty, integrity, and such as love and will 
be kind to, and honest in their dealings with 
Indians. 

" That a thousand acres of, and within said grant 
be given to this school; part of it to be a college 
for the education of missionaries, interpreters, 
school-masters, etc.; and part of it a school to 
teach reading, writing, etc. And that there be 



THE HISTOEY OF ONEOXTA. 19 

manufactures for the instruction of both males and 
females, in whatever shall be useful and necessary 
in life, and proper tutors, masters and mistresses be 
provided for the same." 



CHAPTER IL 

"nURING the war for independence, the Susque- 
^ hanna valley below Schenevus creek was the 
lurking place of Indians and Tories, who, from this 
secluded territory, made many and frequent inroads 
upon the settlements on the Schoharie and Char- 
lotte. Owing to the remoteness of this section 
and the weak condition of the frontiersmen, the 
trail of the retreating savages was seldom followed 
to any considerable distance and consequently but 
little knowledge concerning the valley was derived 
by the settlers at the former points until the restor- 
ation of peace. 

In 1770, an extensive tract of land was granted 
to Sir William Johnson and others, a large part 
of which lies within the limits of the town of One- 
onta. This tract lies on both sides of the Susque- 
hanna river, both above and below the Otego creek. 
It is supposed the first settlement within the town 
was made upon this patent.* It contained 26,000 
acres. 

*Many have erroneously believed this patent to have been the grant 
made by the Indian chief to ?ir William in accordance with a dream 
the latter had, i. e., he had dreamed that the Indian gave him all of a 
certain described tract, whereupon the Indian told him that he sup- 
posed what he had dreamed must be true, but " be sure and not 
dream again." "Dreamland," by good authority, is said to be in 
Herkimer county. 



THE HI8TOEY OF ONEOKTA. 21 

Some years before tlie commencement of hostili- 
ties, Henry Schramling, a hardy pioneer from 
the older settlement at German Flats, on the 
Mohawk, came into the valley and made a settle- 
ment at a point near the Otego creek bridge, but 
by reason of the troubled condition of the country 
after 1775, Mr. Schramling moved back to the 
Mohawk for greater security. After the war he 
with his brothers, George and David, returned to 
the Susquehanna. It is believed upon good 
authority that he was the first white settler in the 
town of Oneonta. After the departure of the 
Schramling family, many years elapsed before 
any pioneers were found venturesome enough to 
settle in this portion of the valley. 

Abram Houghtailing, Elias Brewer and Peter 
Swartz became settlers here in 1786. Houghtail- 
ing and Brewer came from Washington county, 
and Swartz from Schoharie. About the same date, 
James Youngs settled near the mouth of the Char- 
lotte and Baltus Kimball settled north of the vil- 
lage on the farm now owned by Jacob Morell. 

About the year 1790, Thomas Morenus* settled 
on the south side of the river. He was a German 
from Schoharie. About the same time Frederick 



*Thoraas Morenus, before settling here, had been a captive among 
the Indians, and had " run the gauntlet" at Fort Niagara. The ter- 
rible scourging he had received at the hands of the savages left marks 
which were plainly traceable when he had become an old man. 



23 THE HISTOET OF OKEONTA. 

Brown came from Fulton, N. Y., and settled on 
the farm formerly owned and occupied by Eliakim 
R. Ford. At this time Brown's house was the 
only one standing within the limits of the present 
village corporation. About the year 1795, one 
Aaron Brink built a large log house by the nlill 
pond, or rather between the railroad crossing on 
Main street and the mill pond. Brink's house was 
the first hotel kept in the village of Oneonta, and 
perhaps the first that was kept in town. Between 
Brown's house and Brink's tavern there was only 
a common wood-road, with a dense forest on 
either side. 

About the same time John Yanderwerker built 
the first gi'ist-mill. This mill stood some distance 
east of the grist-mill now standing in the lower 
part of the village. 

In 1791, Asel Marvin came from Yermont and 
first settled at Oneonta Plains. Shortly afterwards 
he removed on a large tract of wild land, about two 
miles from the village, upon the Oneonta Creek. 
He was a well-known builder and lumberman. 
For twenty-two consecutive years he rafted lumber 
to Baltimore. He built the first school house on 
the Oneonta Creek road, and when the first church 
edifice was built in town, he was one of the trustees 
of the church society. When Mr. Marvin moved 
into the valley of the Oneonta Creek, the country 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 26 

across the hill from Oneonta to Laurens, was al- 
most an unbroken wilderness. 

Some years later than the last named date, 
Peter Dinninny opened the first store kept in 
Oneonca. The store then stood where the opera 
block now stands. The first school-house was built 
soon after 1790, and stood on the rise of ground 
near the house of Horace Sessions, on the south 
side of the river. 

Previous to 1816, when the Presbyterian church 
was built, church services were generally held in 
Frederick Brown's barn. The first clergyman 
who regularly preached here was the Rev. Alfred 
Conkey, who was settled at Milford. Mr. Conkey 
is yet remembered by some of the older citizens as 
a very earnest and zealous man, besides being a 
person of liberal culture. 

The first white child born in this town, or the 
first known to have been born in town, was Abram 
Houghtaling. He was born in 1786. 

John and Nicholas Beams were ^arly settlers to 
the east of the village. Elisha Shepherd came 
from New England at an early day and settled at 
Oneonta Plains. His sons, in after years, became 
actively engaged in different branches of industry, 
and the Plains at one time bid fair to become the 
most prominent village in town. It contained a 
hotel, a store, two churches and a distillery. 



24 THE HI8TOET OF ONEONTA. 

Andrew Parish was also one of the pioneers of 
Oneonta. He was born in Massachusetts in 1786, 
and moved from Springfield here in 1808. He 
settled on the south side of the river on the John 
Fritts farm, and afterwards on the hill near the 
"Round Top." From the latter place he moved 
to the farm now owned bj his son Stephen, on the 
south side of the river. Mr. Parish reared a large 
family of children, all of whom became successful 
farmers, and men of business. Andrew Parish 
was a justice of 'the town for twenty years in suc- 
cession. He was also a commiss oner of schools 
under the old system. In 1809 he put up a brick 
kiln on the Elisha Shepherd farm at the Oneonta 
Plains, from which came the first bricks that were 
used in town. 

Dr. Joseph Lindsay was the first physician who 
settled in Oneonta. He came from Pelham, in the 
old county of Hampshire, Mass., in the year 1807. 
Having received a liberal education in the ad- 
vanced schools of his native state and at Williams 
College, in after years he became a teacher to 
many of the younger people of the country who 
were ambitious of extending their studies beyond 
the rudimentary branches taught at that time in 
the schools of the neighborhood. 

In 1815, Frederick Bornt moved on the farm 
now owned and occupied by his son, on the Oneonta 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 25 

Creek. He had been a soldier in the war of 1812 
and had served at the battle of Plattsburg. He 
came from Rensselaer count3^ N. Y. 

Before the date last named, Jacob Van Woert, a 
Dutchman, and father of the late Peter and John 
Van Woert, came from Albany and settled on the 
farm lately owned by his son Peter, near the mouth 
of the Otego Creek. Asa Emmons about the same 
time settled on the south side of the river, near the 
Charlotte. He came from Vermont, and settled 
where Deacon Slade now lives. Jacob Wolf, the 
father of Conradt Wolf, had also settled in the south- 
ern part of the town at about the close of the Rev- 
olutionary war. Mr. Wolf had been taken as an 
Indian captive to Canada, where he had been 
detained for several years. His home, when cap- 
tured, was in the valley of the Mohawk. While 
extinguishing a fire which had caught in a tall 
hemlock, by night, he was surprised by a company 
of Indians, by whom he was easily overpowered. 
He at length escaped from his captors, and making 
his way southward, after a long and perilous 
journey, he met with friends on the Tioga riv^er. 
He rejoined his wife on the Mohawk, and after- 
wards removed to the Susquehanna, on the farm 
now owned by George Swart, southwest of the 
village. 

Elihu Gifford, with four sons, came from Albany 



26 THE HISTOEY OF OXEONTA. 

coimty in 1803. and first settled at West Oueonta, 
ou the farm now owned by Joseph Taber. In 
1S06, Mr. Gifford moved to the farm now owned 
bv Henry Gifford on Oneonta Creek. About the 
same time Josiah Peet and Ephraim Farrington 
moved into the same neighborhood. Later, Col. Wm. 
Richardson settled further up the creek and built a 
saw-mill and a grist-mill. "Richardson's Mills'^ 
became a well-known place in a few years, and a 
thriving hamlet soon began to form around them. 
Col. Richardson was an enterprising man of busi- 
ness and took a prominent part in the affairs of 
the town. He served in the war of 1812-15. 

When Elihu Gifford moved to the Oneonta 
Creek there were only four "clearings" in that 
valley. A Mr. Armitage had made some inroads 
upon the wilderness, on what is now known as the 
Losee farm ; Asel Marvin had made a clearing on 
the James Sheldon farm, and there were others on 
Mrs. Richardson's farm, and where Peter Yager 
lives. The settlers along the Oneonta Creek, after 
Mr. Marvin, moved in slowly. 

About 1804, DaWd Yager came from Greenbush, 
X. Y., and purchased the farm now known as the 
Peter Yager farm. Solomon Yager, the father of 
David, came afterwards, purchasing his son's farm."^ 

* For the purpose of showing the increase in the value of real es- 
tate, it may be mentioned that at the time David Yager sold to his 
father, he was offered a farm lying between Maple street and the 
f£irm of J. R. L. Walling, containing 150 acres, for S400. 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 27 

James McDonald settled at the lower end of the 
village at an early date. Mr. McDonald was ot 
Scotch descent, and an active business man. The 
lower part of the village was largely Ijuilt through 
his enterprise and at one time bid fair to become 
the business centre of the village. He built a mill 
and hotel, and also became an extensive landholder. 
James McDonald kept the first post-office estab- 
lished within the limits of the town. 

The first settlers were mostly German Palatin- 
ates from Schoharie and the Mohawk. The Ger- 
man was the language of common conversation, 
and so continued until Dr. Lindsay and Asa Em- 
mons came into the settlement. At this time the 
Emmons and Lindsay families were the only ones 
that made the English their exclusive language. 

These German settlers were a patient and per- 
severing people, and betook themselves to the task 
of felling the forest and rearing homes for them- 
selves and their posterity, with a noble and praise- 
worthy resolution. Beneath the sturdy strokes of 
the axe. the wilderness slowly but gradually dis- 
appeared around their rud3 homes, and in the 
place of the gloomy forest, fields of waving grain 
appeared on every side to cheer and encourage the 
industrious woodsman. The forests abounded in 
the most ravenous animals, such as bears, panthers 
and wolves, while along the river and creek bot- 



28 THE IlISTOKY OF ONEONTA. 

toms the ground was at places almost literally cov- 
ered with poisonous reptiles. The climate was 
severe, and the country remote from the frontier, 
yet notwithstanding the obstacles and discourage- 
ments that beset them, these were not sufficient to 
cause the settlers to relax their efforts to rear com- 
fortable homes for their descendants. 

The following story I have taken from Priest's 
Collection, for the reason that the scene of the ex- 
ploit is said to have been near our town boundaries : 

"Ben Wheaton was one of the first settlers on the 
waters of tlie Susquehanna, immediately after the 
war, a rough, uncultivated and primitive man. As 
many others of the same stamp and character, he 
subsisted chiefly by hunting, cultivating the land 
but sparingly, and in this way raised a numerous 
family amid the woods, in a half starved condition, 
and comparative nakedness. But as the Susque- 
hanna country rapidly increased in population, the 
hunting grounds of Wheaton were encroached up- 
on ; so that a chance with his smooth-bore, among 
the deer and bears was greatly lessened. On this 
account Wheaton removed from the Susquehanna 
country, in Otsego county, to the more unsettled 
wilds of the Delaware, near a place yet known by 
the appellation af Wait's Settlement," where game 



*Wait's Settlement is said to have been in the vicinity of what now 
is known as North Franklin. 



THE IIISTOKY OF ONEONTA. 29 

was more plenty. The distance from where he 
made his home in the woods, through to the Sus- 
quehanna, was about fifteen miles, and was one con- 
tinued wilderness at that time. Through these 
woods this almost aboriginal hunter was often com- 
pelled to pass to the Susquehanna, for various 
necessaries, and among the rest no small quantity 
ot whiskey, as he was of very intemperate habits. 
On one of these visits, in the midst of summer, with 
his smooth-bore always on his shoulder, knife, 
hatchet, <fcc., in their proper place, he had nearly 
penetrated the distance, when he became weary, 
and having come to the summit of a ridge (some- 
time in the afternoon) which overlooks the vale of 
the Susquehanna, he selected a convenient place in 
the shade, as it was hot, for the rays of the sun 
from the west poured his sultry influence through 
all the forest,wliere he lay down to rest awhile among 
the leaves, after having taken a drink from his pint 
bottle of green iilass, and a mouthful of cold John- 
ney cake from his pocket. 

" In this situation he was soothed to drowsiness 
by the hum of insects, and the monotony of passing 
winds among the foliage around him. when he soon 
unwarily fell asleep with his gun folded in his arms. 
But after a while he awoke from his sleep, and for 
a moment or two still lay in the same position, as 
it happened, without stirring, when he found that 



30 'THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 

something had taken place while he had slept, 
which had situated him somewhat differently from 
the manner in which he first went to sleep. On 
reflecting a moment, he found he was entirely cov- 
ered over, head and ears, with leaves and liglit 
stuff, occasioned,, as he now suspected, either by 
the sudden blowing of the wind, or by some wild 
animal. On which account he became a little dis- 
turbed in his mind, as he well knew the manners 
of the panther at that season of the year, when it 
hunts to supports its young, and will often cover 
its prey with leaves and bring its whelps to the 
banquet. He therefore continued to lie perfectly 
still, as when he first awoke ; he thought he heard 
the step of some kind of heavy animal near him ; 
and he knew that if it were a panther, the distance 
between himself and death could not be far, if he 
should attempt to rise up. Accordingly, as he 
suspected, after having lain a full minute, he now 
distinctly heard the retiring tread of the stealthy 
panther, of which he had no doubt, from his knowl- 
edge of the creature's ways. It had taken but a 
few steps however, when it again stopped a longer 
time ; still Wheaton continued his silent position, 
knowing his safety depended much on this. Soon 
the tread was again heard, farther and farther oflf, 
till it entirely died away in the distance — but he 
still lay motionless a few minutes longer, when he 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 31 

ventured gently and cautiously to raise his head 
and cast an eye in the direction the creature, what- 
ever it was, had gone, but could see nothing. He 
now rose up with a spring, for his blood had been 
running from his heart to his extremities, and back 
again, with uncommon velocity ; all the while his 
ears had listened to the steps of the animal on the 
leaves and brush. He now saw plainly the marks 
of design among the leaves, and that he had been 
covered over, and that the paws of some creature 
had done it. 

" And as he suspected the panther was the ani- 
mal, he knew it would soon return to kill him, on 
which account he made haste to deceive it, and to 
put himself in a situation to give it a taste of the- 
contents of old smooth-bore. He now seized upon 
some pieces of old wood which lay all about, and 
placed as much as was equal to his own bulk, ex- 
actly where he had slept, and covered it over with 
leaves in the same manner the panther had 
done, and then sprang to a tree near by, into which 
he ascended, from whence he had a view a good 
distance about him, and especially in the direction 
the creature had gone. Here in the crotch of the 
tree he stood, with his gun resting across a limb, 
in the direction of the place where he had been 
left by the panther, looking sharply as far among 
the woods as possible, in the direction he expected 



32 THE HISTORY OF OJiEONTA. 

the creature's return. But he had remained in 
this condition but a short time, and had barely 
tlirust the ram-rod down the barrel of his piece, to 
be sure the charge was in her, and to examine her 
priming, and to shut down the pan slowly, so that 
it should not snap, and thus make a noise, when 
his keen Indian eye, for such he had, caught a 
glimpse of a monstrous panther, leading warily 
two panther kittens toward her intended supper. 

Now matters were hastening to a climax rapidly, 
when Wheaton or the panther must finish their 
hunting on the mountains of the Susquehanna, for 
if old smooth-bore should flash in the pan, or miss 
her aim. the die would be cast, as a second load 
would be impossible ere her claws would have sun- 
dered his heart strings in the tree where he was, 
or if he should but partially wound her the same 
must have been his fate. During these thoughts 
the panther had hid her young under some brush, 
and had come within some thirty feet of the spot 
where she supposed her victim was still sleeping ; 
and seeing all as she left it, she dropped down to 
a crouching position, precisely as a cat, when about 
to spring on its prey. Now was seen the soul of 
the panther in its perfection, merging from the re- 
cesses of nature where hidden by the creator, along 
the whole nervous system, but resting chiefly in 
the brain, whence it glared, in bright horror, 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 33 

from the burning eyes, curled in the strong and \i- 
brating tail, pushed out the sharp, white and elipti- 
cal fangs from the broad and powerful paws, ready 
for rending, glittered on the points of its uncovered 
teeth, and smoked in rapid tissues of steam from 
its red and open jaws, while every ha'r of its long 
dun back stood erect in savage joy, denoting that 
the fatal and decisive moment of its leap had 
come. 

" Now the horrid nestling of its hinder claws, 
drawn under its belly was heard, and the bent ham 
strings were seen but a half instant by Wheaton, 
from where he sat in his tree, when the tremendous 
leap Avas made. It rose on a long curve into the 
air, of about ten feet in the highest place, and from 
thence descending, it struck exactly where the 
breast, head and l^owels of its prey had lain, with 
a scream too horrible for description, when it tore 
to atoms the rotten wood, filling for several feet 
above it, the air with the leaves and light brush, 
the covering of the deception. But instantly the 
panther found herself cheated, and seemed to droop 
a little with disappointment, when however she re- 
sumed an erect posture, and surveyed quite around 
on every side on a horizontal line, in search of her 
prey, but not discovering it, she cast a furious look 
aloft among the tops of the trees, when in a mo- 
ment or two the eyes of Wheaton and the panther 



34 ^ THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 

met. Now for another leap, when she dropped 
for that purpose ; but the bullet and two buck shot 
of old smooth bore were too quick, as he lodged 
them all exactly in the brain of the savage mon- 
ster, and stretched her dead on the spot where the 
Imnter had slept but a short time before, in the 
soandness of a mountain dream. 

" Wheaton had marked the spot where her young 
were hidden, which, at the report of the gun, were 
frightened and ran up a tree. He now came down 
and found the panther to measure, from the end of 
its nose to the point of its tail, eight feet six inches 
in length ; a creature sufficiently strong to have 
carried him off on a full run, had he fallen into its 
power. He now reloaded and went to the tree 
where her kittens, or the young panthers were, and 
soon brought them down from their grapple among 
the limbs, companions for their conquered and slain 
parent. 

" Wheaton dismantled them of their hides, and 
hastened away before the night should set in, lest 
some other encounter might overtake him of a 
similar character, when the disadvantage of dark- 
ness might decide the victory in a way more ad- 
vantageous to the roamers of the forest.^ Of this 
feat Ben Wheaton never ceased to boast ; reciting 
it as the most appalling passage of his hunting 
life. The animal had found him while asleep, 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 35 

and had him concealed, as he supposed, intending to 
give her young a specimen of the manner of their 
future life; or if this is too much for the mind of a 
dumb animal, she intended at least to ^ive them a 
supper. 

" This circumstance was all that saved his life, or 
the panther would have leapt upon him at first, 
and have torn him to pieces, instead of covering 
him with leaves, as she did, for the sake of her young. 
The panther is a ferocious and almost untamable 
animal, whose nature and habits are like those of 
the cat ; except that the nature and powers of this 
domestic creature are in the panther immensely 
magnified, in strength and voracity. It is in the 
American forest what the tiger is in Africa and 
India, a dangerous and savage animal, the ter- 
ror of all other creatures, as well as of the In- 
dian and the white man." 

The German Palatinates who settled in the up- 
per Susquehanna were noted for their physical en- 
durance and their fondness for sports, but the same 
can hardly be said of their desire for intellectual 
culture. Perhaps they were no worse, in this re- 
spect, than circumstances made them. Poverty 
and hard work were their portion, and the share 
was not stinted out to them. There were no news- 
papers, that is, during the earlier history of the 
settlement, published at a nearer point than Albany. 



36 THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 

Even those papers were but poor affairs. They 
were filled with the unimportant doings of the 
Dutch burghers — perhaps enlivened now and then, 
with a highly seasoned article, full of indignation 
because some obscure man in Massachusetts had 
committed a trespass by cutting a forest tree on 
the manor of Livingston. 

School teachers were not numerous nor were 
they well qualified for their work. School houses 
were at a great distance from most of the homes. 
They were both comfortless and cheerless. The 
snows were deep in winter and the weather was 
inclement. In summer, even little hands were 
lielpful at home. 

In their sports, the settlers were often inclined 
to push a joke to rudeness, and what began in fun 
often ended in a fight. Still, they were good- 
natured, honest people. They were kind to those 
needing assistance, and if necessity became com- 
mon so did the loaf of bread. 

There was no lack of social enjoyment, for their 
hardest toil was made the occasion of a gathering. 
If a piece of woodland was to be cleared, or a 
fallow, the male portion of the community united 
in a "bee" and the work was soon done. Perhaps, 
while the men were thus working together in the 
field, the women had gathered within doors, and 
were busily plying their fingers over the mottled 



THE HISTOEY OF ONEONTA. 37 

patch-work of a quilt. In the lengthening sum- 
mer twilight the men, coatless and barefoot, sat in 
groups on the front steps or under the low Dutch 
stoops and talked of the incoming crops, the 
weather or the watery moon. 

The forests, all over the hillsides, where now 
village streets are creeping up and winding across, 
were frowning with great pines and hemlocks. The 
log road ran in every direction and was no more ex- 
clusive than a common highway. The " shingle- 
weaver's" huts were on nearly every road and by- 
path. The most towering pines were regarded as 
lawful prize, and during the winter the men found 
plenty of employment and slight recompense in 
hauling the pines to mill. Here they were con- 
verted into lumber, which was piled up by the bank 
of the river until "the spring freshet." On the 
swollen stream it was rafted to Baltimore, Harris- 
burg and other places. 

The "rafting season" wai^ looked forward to 
with no little solicitude by the more robust and dar- 
ing of the young men. They waited for the rafts 
to be cut from their moorings with keen anticipa- 
tion, and the stories of some of the rivermen 
are still well remembered by the older inhabitants. 

For a great many years, Albany was the only 
market to which the pioneers carted their wheat. 
The roads were barely passable and the trip to 



38 THE HISTOET OF OXEONTA. 

Albany and back required from six to eight days. 
The wagons, upon which the produce was carted, 
were of rough and clumsy make. It would not be 
supposed that the driver would find much pleasure 
in making the distance to market and back on one 
of these clumsy Vehicles, but the trip, especially to 
the younger men, was not without its enjoyments. 
They carried their provisions in a large, round, 
wooden box over which closed a round, wooden 
cover. They also carried provender for their 
teams and the only necessary cash expense was a 
sixpence each night for lodging. The more sump- 
tuous and less economical might, if they chose, di- 
minish their exchequer to the amount of an extra 
sixpence by indulging in a glass of " flip." Nearly 
every farm-house of any pretension on the high 
road to Albany was a hotel, so-called, if not in fact. 
Seated at night within these primitive hotels, the 
farmers who had assembled from different parts 
told their tales of prowess — some true stories and 
a good many lies. 

Beside the ambitious house that gloried in a 
daub of red paint and which had been pushed up 
to the aristocratic height of one and a half or two 
stories, before which flapped in the wind a wide, 
white board with the cheerful announcement, 
"Smith's Inn — Refreshments for Man or Beast," 
stood a more modest structure. Brown, unpainted, 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 



unclapboarded, it stood by the wayside. Its log 
walls were stuccoed with mud, and in the wide 
mouth of the doorway was the.brawny housewife, 
bare-armed, peering from beneath a slatternly red 
sun-bonnet, while over the doorway the passer-by 
read the letters in red chalk upon a new pine 
shingle : 



"CAKES AND BEER j 

FOR SALE HERE." ' 



After the farmer had sold or bartered away his 
wheat or other produce, he generally returned with 
a load of goods for the village merchant. 



CHAPTER III. 

DROMINENT among the early settlers of Oiie- 
onta was Jacob Dietz, who removed into the 
settlement from Schoharie county about the year 
1804. Mr. Dietz was early appointed a justice of the 
peace, and continued in office either by appointment 
or election for a great length of time. He was active 
in the affairs of the town and an energetic man of 
business. He was a long time in mercantile busi- 
ness, and his store, which was situated where now 
stands the brick building occupied by the First 
National Bank, was the center of a lively trade 
for those times. Mr. Dietz accumulated an exten- 
sive estate, and reared a large family of children. 
He became the owner of extensive tracts of land, 
some of which are now occupied by the streets and 
residences of the village. Some of his representa- 
tives are now living in the west and are deservedly 
esteemed where they reside. 

At about the date last mentioned, one School- 
craft erected a modest btructure on the site of the 
Susquehanna House. Schoolcraft's house became in 
a short time the leading tavern of the community, 
where poor grog and worse food were dispensed 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 41 

to the villagers and wayfarers, doubtless much to 
the gratification of their primitive tastes. 

About the same period, 1804-5, one Joseph 
Westcott, from the present town of Milford, erected 
a store nearly opposite the residence of D. M. Mil- 
ler. These stores — Dinninny's, mentioned in the 
preceding chapter, Dietz'sand Westcott's — were all 
of the most primitive order, and, especially the first 
named, contained but a meagre stock of goods, the 
stock generally consisting of a barrel of New Eng- 
land rum of the most violent nature, several old 
bull ploughs, a little crockery ware, a few cooking 
utensils, and a small amount of dry goods. There 
was but little money and the merchant's trade was 
carried on mostly in the way of barter, the trades- 
man exchanging his merchandise for grain, lumber 
and shingles. 

Early in thehistory of the town, a Mr. Walling, 
the grandfather of J. R. L. Walling, located to the 
east of Oneonta creek, near where his descendant 
above named now lives. One Newkirk also set- 
tled on Chestnut street, on the lot adjoining Phi- 
lander Lane's. Lawrence Swart settled on the 
farm now owned and occupied by Henry Wilcox, 
about the same time that Jacob Dietz came into 
the settlement.* 



*There were other families among the settlers by the name of Hill- 
singer, Co use, Whitmarsh. Harsen, Sullivan, White and Morrell. 



42 THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 

At the time of Swart's settlement the land on 
the lower end of River street was covered by a 
dense forest of hemlock and maple. Over those 
attractive and well-tilled fields now composing Mr, 
Wilcox's farm, roamed at that time the bear and 
the panther, and glided with little molestation num- 
berless rattlesnakes of the largest and most pois- 
onous species. The settlement along the river, 
below the residence of George Scramling, seemed 
to proceed slowly, as the land below this point was 
considered of but little value, while the heavy 
growth of hemlock precluded the rapid clearing 
away of the forest. To the north and east of the 
village the hillsides yielded a vast quantity of the 
more valuable timber. 

For news outside of the little settlement the in- 
habitants had recourse to the Freeman^s Journal, 
at that time published by one of the pioneers of 
journalism in Otsego county, John H. Prentiss. 
The mails were conveyed from one settlement to 
another by the postman, who traveled over the 
hills and through the valleys on horseback, and 
made known his approach to each post-village by 
the winding of a huge horn, which was always 
carried by his saddle-bows ready for use. 

During the war of 1812-14, the winding of the 
postman's horn caused the settlers both in the vil- 
lage and without to assemble rapidly and in lull 



THE HISTOKY OF OSEONTA. 43 

force, men, women and children, to learn the news 
from the " Canada border.'' Early in that war a 
number of men entered the army from Oneonta. 
Some of them were stationed at Sackett's Harbor 
and Oswego, while others did good service at 
Lundy's Lane and the Heights of Queenstown. 
But few of those veterans yet remain to tell 

" Of their strange ventures happed by land or sea," 

At the time of its first settlement, Oneonta was 
in the old county of Tryon, which was formed from 
Albany county in 1772. Tryon county them em- 
braced the wliole western portion of the state, from 
a line extending north and i?outh through the cen- 
tre of the present county of Schoharie, to Lake 
Erie. In 1784 the name was changed from Tryon 
to Montgomery. Oneonta was then in the old 
town of Suffrage. 

During the. period of which we have written, 
Oneonta as a distinct town had no existence. The 
village of Oneonta was then in the town of Mil- 
ford, and was known as Milfordville. Through 
the brawl of two old bruisers, it was sometimes 
vulgarly called " Klipknocky."-^ This nickname 
lasted a long while, and was known at a long dis- 
tance from home. 



*0n the banks of the Susquehanna, in Pennsylvania, there is a 
thriving little hamlet known as " Klipknocky Jr." It was first set- 
tled by an emigrant from Oneonta. While the river was the high- 
wav the most easily traveled, fugitives from the older settlement 
found a landing-place for their canoes and a safe retreat for them - 
selves at " Klipknocky Jr." 



44 THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 

In 1830 the town of Oneonta was formed from 
the adjoining towns of Milford and Otego. It is 
said that it received the name Oneonta at the sug- 
gestion of Gen. Erastus Root. 

Among the early inhabitants of Oneonta, whose 
enterprise contributed to the developement of the 
resources of the town, was William Angell, who 
soon after his settlement here became the most 
prominent inhabitant of the village. He built the 
Oneonta House, where he acted as host for a num- 
ber of years. He was also one of the proprietors 
of the Charlotte turnpike, which upon its comple- 
tion in 1834, was made the great highway from 
Catskill to the southwestern portion of the state. 

Any attempted sketch of our early history would 
be very far from complete and far from just, were 
mention not made of a class of citizens, some of 
wdiom are still living, whose labors were early 
identified w^ith the history of the town, a part of 
whom were here born and here grew to manhood ; 
a part of whom came to the village while it was 
yet an outlying hamlet, but whose labors have 
largely aided in advancing the growth and pros- 
perity of the community. 

Among these was Timothy Sabin, a native of the 
town, who, upon arriving at the age of manhood, 
embarked in mercantile pursuits, and continued to 
an advanced age to lend his aid to the manage- 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 45 

ment of an extensive business. Another of the 
older class of men of the village is John M. Wat- 
kins, who was born in Oneonta in 1806. For 
thirty years Mr. Watkins was one of the leading- 
hotel keepers of the village, and during this long 
period in which he acted the part of host, his house 
was known far and wide as the best kept hostelry 
in this section. There are many more " to the 
manor born" whose names it would be a pleasure 
to mention, but for lack of data which their friends 
or representatives have neglected or failed to fur- 
nish, we are compelled to forego any more ex- 
tended notice. 

Occupying a prominent position among those 
who, at an early date, emigrated into the town was 
Eliakim R. Ford. Mr. Ford was born in Albany 
county in 1797, and removed to Greenville, Greene 
county, when quite young. From the latter place 
he removed to Oneonta in 1822, he then being 
twenty-five years of age. He at once embarked 
in mercantile enterprises and so conducted his 
business matters as to rapidly win both the confi- 
dence and trade of his fellow citizens. His first 
store stood near the Free Baptist church. From 
that point he removed to a store next to the lot 
where now the opera house stands, and in 1828 
he again moved into a store which he had l)uilt 
near the residence of Harvey Baker. His late resi- 



46 THE HISTOEY OF ONEONTA. 

dence and the stone store recently destroyed by fire 
were built in 1839-40. 

Dr. Samuel H. Case settled in the village of 
Oneonta in 1829. He was born in Franklin, N. 
Y., in 1808, and at the age of twenty-one was gradu- 
ated at the medical college at Fairfield, N. Y. 
More than fifty years he has continued the practice 
of medicine in the village and throughout the sur- 
rounding country. There are but a few among 
the longer resident population of the community 
who have not, at one time or another, been under 
the Doctor's treatment. , He built the office 
still occupied by him, in 1832, and his house in 
1834 — soon after his marriage — and has never 
moved from either since he began to occupy them. 
When he moved into the village, the latter con- 
tained only two painted houses, and the whole bus- 
iness prosperity of the hamlet was then centered in 
two stores — Dietz's and Ford's — one potash and 
two distilleries. Dr. Case is of New England 
ancestry, his father having emigrated to Franklin 
from Tolland county, Connecticut, in 1792. 

Col. William W. Snow came to Oneonta, a few 
years after the last named, and early engaged in 
manufacturing. The Colonel was born in the 
town of Heath, Franklin county, Mass. He became 
interested in the organization and welfare of the 
militia. He was elected to a colonelcy, whence his 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 47 

military title. He was elected to congress from 
Otsego and Schoharie counties in 1848. He has 
been several times elected to our state legislature, 
and has been a member of the third house many 
years. 

Though not a resident of the town, yet his busi- 
ness relations have been such as to identify the 
name of Jared Goodyear with its history. Mr. 
Goodyear for a long term of years resided upon 
the borders of Oneonta, and from an early 
period was largely interested in the business of the 
village. He was born in Connecticut, and while a 
boy removed to Schoharie county, whence he came 
to Colliersville while yet a young man, and there 
he resided the remainder of his life. By persistent 
industry Mr. Goodyear accumulated a large for- 
tune, and won a high reputation for integrity. 

The following is a column of business cards from 
the " Oneonta Weekly Journal," of July 1, 
1841. It is nearly a correct showing of what the 
business of the village then was : 

Headquarters at the foot of Chestnut street. New Fall 
and Winter goods. Timothy Sabin is now receiving a fresh 
supply of Spring and Summer Goods, comprising a general 
assortment of Dry Goods, Groceries, Crockery, Hardware, 
Dye Stuffs, Pamts, Oils, etc., etc., for sale as low as at any 
establishment west of the Hudson river. Please call and ex- 
amine goods and prices ; they are well selected, and will be 
sold cheap for Cash, Produce, or a liberal credit. 

Oneonta, May 13, 1841. 



48 THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 

Cabiuet and Chair Warehouse, No. 10 Chestnut St., One- 
dnta. The subscriber respectfully informs • his friends, and 
the public generally, that he has opened a Cabinet Ware- 
house at No. 10 Chestnut st , Oneonta, where he manufac- 
tures and keeps constantly on hand, a geaeral assortment of 
Cabinet Furniture, comprising Mahogany, Cherry and Maple 
work. Also, a good assort-ment of Chairs, will be kept con- 
stantly on hand, and all other articles generally found at an 
establishment of this kind. 

N, B. Most kinds of Lumber and grain will be received 
in payment. 

Oneonta, Sept. 17, 1840. R. W. Hopkins. 

A Card Executed at the office of the Oneonta Weekly 
Journal with neatness and dispatch and on reasonable terms, 
Job Printing of every description. 

E. Cooke, Attorney at Law, Oneonta, Otsego County, N.Y. 

John B. Steele, Attorney, &c., Oneonta, Otsego County, 
N. Y. Office, in the stone building opposite the Otsego 
House, Main street. 

Mason Gilbert, Hatter, Main street, Oneonta. 



The following advertisement fiom the "Weekly Journal," of July 
] . 1841, will show that people were not more honest in former times 
than they are now : 

FENCE IN THE FOG. 

'pHE fence around the Baptist Church in this village, has disap- 
1 peared very mysteriously during the past winter. Whether 
strayed or stolen it is not yet definitely ascertained ; but from circum- 
stances recently developed, the latter idea seems most conclusive. 
Rumor says it has been tracked going Westward ; but still, as the 
Church is located on quite an elevated piece of ground, and near the 
brink of the hill, it is possible that it may have slid off to the East- 
ward. 

Any person who will give correct information where said fence 
may be found, or where it was last seen after leaving the premises, 
will be liberally rewarded by the trustees of the Baptist society. Any 
person wishing to make any confession in relation to it, may rely 
upon having profound secrecy maintained by applying soon to oiie 
of the Deacons of the Church. 
Oneonta, May 20, 1841, 



THE HISTORY OF OXEONTA. 49 

Cooke & Brown, retail dealers in Dry Goods, Groceries, 
Crockery, Hardware, Iron, Steel, &c., &c. Store under the 
office of the Oneonta Weekly Journal, Main street, Oneonta. 

Potter C. Burton, dealer in Watches, Clocks, Jewelry, 
Silver and German Silver Ware, &c., &c. One door north 
of Cooke & Brown's Store, Main street, Oneonta. 

Timothy Sabin, retail dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries, 
Crockery, Hardware, Iron, Steel. &c., &c. Store opposite 
the Oneonta House, Main street, foot of Chestnut, Oneonta. 

Clyde & Cook, retail dealers in Dry Goods, Groceries, 
Crockery, Hardware, Drugs & Medicines, Dye Woods & 
Dye Stuffs, &c., &c. Store nearly opposite the Otsego 
House, Main street, Oneonta. 

Snow & Van Woert, manufacturers of, and wholesale and 
retail dealers in Tin, Sheet-Iron, and Copper ware. Stoves, 
&c. , &c. Over Clyde & Cook's Store, Main street, Oneonta. 

C. Noble, manufacturer of, and wholesale and retail 
dealer in Beach's Patent Shaving Soap, Beach's Liquid Opo- 
deldoc, and Black Varnish, &c., &c. Main street, Oneonta. 

Robert W. Hopkins, manufacturer of, and dealer in Cabi- 
net Ware and Chairs of every description. Chestnut street, 
Oneonta. 

Cashing & Potter, manufacturers of, and wholesale and 
retail dealers in Barrels & Firkins, &c., &c. Mainst., One- 
onta. 

W. W. Snow's Wool Carding and Cloth Dressing Estab- 
lishment. Opposite E. R. Ford's Store, Main street, Oneonta. 

Ben net & Smith, dealers in Morocco, Boots and Shoes, 
Thread, Nails, and Findings, &c., &c., Chestnut street, One- 
onta, Otsego Co., N. Y. 

George W. Andrews, Chair Maker, and House & Sign 
Painter, (Chestnut street,) Oneonta, Otsego Co., N. Y. 

C. G. Cross, Waggon and Carriage Maker, Chestnut street, 
Oneonta. 



50 THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 

E. R. Ford, retail dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries, Crock- 
ery, Hardware, Drugs & Medicines, Dye Woods & Dye 
Stuffs, Iron, Steel, &c., &c.. Main street, Oneonta. 

From the town book the following copy of the 
doings of the people, at their first town meeting, 
has been made : 

" At an annual town meeting held in the town 
of Oneonta at the house of Thomas D. Alexander, 
on the 1st day of March, present 

Eliakim R. Ford, ) Justices in 
Eobert Cook, [ said toivn. 

"After the opening of the meeting by proclama- 
tion, it was resolved, 

1st, That there be three assessors elected for 
said town. 

2d. That there be four constables elected for said 
town. 

3d, That there be four pound-masters chosen for 
said town. 

4th, That an amount, equal to the sum which 
may be distributed to said town from the common 
school fund, be raised by tax for the support of 
common schools in said town. 

5th, That the sum of one dollar per day be 
allowed to the fence viewers of said town. 

6th, That five per cent, be allowed as the com- 
pensation to the collector, as his fees for collecting 
the taxes for said town. 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 



51 



7tli, That all circular and partition fences, in 
said town, shall be at least four feet and six inches 
high. 

8th, That widows, who have no land, shall be 
entitled to let their cattle run at large in tlie pub- 
lic highways, from the first of April to the first of 
December. 

9th, Tliat the annual town meeting shall be held 
on the first Thursday of March. The following 
officers were then elected for the town : 

Supervisor, William Richardson. 

Town Clerk, Adam Brown. 

r John Dillingham, 
Justices of the peace < Jonah Northrup, 
( John S. Yager. 

i John Van Woert, 
Assessors < John Fritts, 

( John T. Quackenboss. 

i Isaac Shepherd, 
Commissioners of Higlncays < Asel Marvin, 

( William Angel. 



.,, ( George W. Smith, 

Overseers of the poor | g^^^^^^^ Carpenter. 

Collector, Hiram Shepherd. 
Constables - 



Hiram Shepherd, 
David Sullivan, 
Emanuel Northrup, 
Robert S. Cook. 



53 THE HISTOEY OF ONEONTA. 

( Obadiah Gififord, 
Commissioners of schools < Peter Dietz, 

( Joseph Walling. 

i Samuel H. Case, 
Inspectors of schools < Washington Throop, 
( Amos Cook. 



Sealer of weights and measures^ Eliakim R. Ford. 
Pound-masters 



" Beers Peet, 
Joseph Walling, 
William Dietz, 
Elisha Shepherd. 



In 1835, five years after the organization of the 
town, the whole tax-paying population of Oneonta 
was 261. The grand total tax-levy of the town 
was $781.48. The amount of public school money 
raised by the town was $100.45. William Angel 
was supervisor and David Sulliv^an collector for 
that year. 

In 1840, a newspaper was established hei*e which 
was thereafter conducted by Wm. J. Knapp for 
about two years when, owing to poor health, Mr. 

No historical sketch of Oneonta would be regarded complete that 
failed to mention another name which no one can recall without a 
feeling of good-will. Dr. David T. Evans was born in Washington 
county, in 1789 and settled here in 1829, He first began business as a 
tailor, but afterwards became a well-known and successful farrier. 
He was a famous story-teller and everybody gave a respectful hear- 
ing to the Doctor's tales regarding ttie strange characters he had 
known or heard of. At least two generations of boys have grown up 
and gone out from the village who have listened to his stories 
Wherever those boys are now— scattered far and wide— they recall no 
scenes or events of their springtime without a remembrance of Dr. 
Evans and his tales, none of which were wanting in pith or amuse- 
ment. 



THE niSTOKY OF ONEOKTA. 53 

Kiiapp was compelled to discontinue its publica- 
tion. It was the "Oneonta Weekly Journal." 

The growth of the village of Oneonta from 18^0 
to 1850 must have been very slow. The building 
of a house in those days was an act of no little 
importance. For ten years there were but few 
dwellings erected, and those few were of a cheap 
and inferior class. The population hardly kept 
pace with the building. The young went west, and 
the number of families that moved out was about 
equal to the number that moved in. 

From 1850 to 1860 there was but little building 
and but a small increase in population. There are 
no accessible figures showing the population of the 
village at the different decades, but the census 
returns for the town may be taken as safe guides 
in forming an estimate of the village population at 
different periods. In 1830, when the town Avas 
organized, it contained a population of eleven hun- 
dred and forty-nine. In J 840 it had increased to 
nineteen hundred and thirty-six. In 1850 it had 
slightly decreased, then being nineteen hundred 
and two. In 1855 it was twenty-one hundred and 
sixty -seven. These are the figures for the town. 
If the village population had increased in the same 
ratio, it could not have been far from two hun- 
dred and fifty when the town was formed in 1830. 
It is hardly fair to infer that the village ratio of 



54 THE HISTOET OF ONEONTA. 

increase was quite equal to that of the town. The 
western emigration was made up more largely 
from the village than from the farms. The same 
cause — lack of profitable employment — that has 
transferred the young men of New England from 
the plow to the manufacturing centres, transferred 
our young men from a place where no industry was 
encouraged, to remote but wider fields of usefulness. 
In 1851 the Albany & Susquehanna railroad 
company was organized and chartered. Samuel S. 
Beach and Woodbury K, Cooke drew up the first 
notice of the railroad project and at the same time 
drew up a notice of a meeting to be held in One- 
onta for the purpose of enlisting the interest of 
capitalists in the proposed road. These notices 
Messrs. Cooke and Beach caused to be printed 
and distributed at their own expense. This meet- 
ing resulted in the formation of the Albany & Sus- 
quehanna railroad company. High hopes of its 
speedy completion were then entertained. But 
could its projectors have for seen the difficulties 
and obstacles that they had to overcome, and the 
length of time that elapsed before the road was 
built to Oneonta, they would have wearied of the 
project and abandoned the enterprise. The road 
was completed to this place in 1865 — a little more 
than fourteen years after the organization of the 
company. 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 55 

An improved appearance was at once given the 
villao'e. New stores and new dwellino:3 were built. 
Old, weather-stained buildings were brightened 
with paint, and the Dutch stoop with its half doors 
gave place to more pretentious verandas. 

Then about 1872 the machine shops were estab- 
lished here, and the village began to increase rap- 
idly, and new industries were developed. 

In 1860, there was but one newspaper published 
in the village. That was the Herald, which had 
been established in 1853 by L. P. Carpenter, and 
his brother, J. B. Carpenter — the former now of 
the Morris Chronicle. L. P. continued the pub- 
lication of the paper, as editor and proprietor, for 
a long time, and at last succeeded in gaining for 
his journal a firm foothold in the community. He 
labored early and late at the work that was before 
him — editor, compositor and pressman — often be- 
set with discouragements, always feebly supported 
in his efforts, but still hopeful and plucky. He 
could hardly, in 1860, have dreamed that within 
twenty years, steam presses would be brought into 
the same village to follow in the wake of the 
clumsy press whose only motive power was his 
own strono: arm. But few of our citizens can now 
justly appreciate the obligation the community is 
under to Mr. Carpenter for the large part of his life- 
work which he here so unostentatiously performed. 



56 THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 

In 1860 there was no bank here, and merchants 
were compelled to adopt a round-about way of 
making exchanges wdth their creditors. Money 
was sent miles away, by the stage-driver, or by 
special messenger, to a bank where at a round 
premium a draft was bought. The stores of the 
village had each a general assortment of merchan- 
dise, including silks, broadcloths, groceries, plows, 
and schoolbooks. On either side of Main-st. w^as 
a hard-beaten path, wliich served for a sidewalk. 
On the south side of the street stood a number of 
dingy rookeries, in a half tumble-down condition. 
Pigs and cows roamed at large, and were only 
known to be home at supper-time, when old brin- 
dle, in more instances than one, might have been 
seen peering through the front window with a cov- 
etous look upon the family group around the table. 

Marked improvements are now to be observed 
in every direction. With the multiplication of in- 
dustries, and the introduction of new ones, calling 
for the outlay of more capital and the employment 
of more labor, the growth of the village, in popu- 
lation and wealth, bids fair to continue. A com- 
parison of figures is, at least, encouraging. In 1860, 
Oneonta was a thriltless hamlet with only about 
six hundred inhabitants. It is now a thriving vil- 
lage with a population of over four thousand. 



CHAPTER IV. 

pALVIN EATON, one of the first settlers about 
^ West Oneonta, settled on the farm now owned 
by Isaac Holmes. He came from Wyoming, Pa., date 
uncertain. He was a famous story-teller. Many 
of his stories have been preserved by tradition, and 
are now told in the neighborhood with great zest. 
His wife, familiarly known as Aunt Olive Eaton, 
died about 1844 or 1845, at a very advanced agCr 
he having died many years before. They brought 
up several of their nephews and nieces, having no 
children of their own, William Holmes, father of 
Isaac Holmes, being one of them. 

Elder Emanuel Northrup, a Baptist minister, 
settled on the farm now owned by his grandson, 
Isaac Northrup, about 1794. He came originally, 
it is believed, from Rhode Island. He had lived 
in Connecticut, but came last from Stephentown, 
Rensselaer-co. His son, Josiah Northrup, who 
was afterwards a justice of the peace for many 
years, having been elected at the first town meet- 
ing, a prominent man in town affairs and a leading 
member of the Baptist church, was, at the time of 
his father's coming, about fourteen years of age ; 
he died in 1844. 



58 THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 

The farm now occupied by the Nilcs family was 
settled by Abner Mack, a Rhode Island man. He 
sold a part of his possession, what is now the Niles 
farm, in 1797, to Nathaniel Nile^ ; there were two 
of the name, father and son, the father being the 
purchaser. He was at that time about seventy 
years of age ; he brought with him some apple 
seeds, planted a nursery, raised trees, set out an 
orchard, and lived to drink cider made from the 
apples. The orchard became quite famous in the 
neighborhood, and was known to all the boys for 
miles around; many of the trees are yet bearing. 
Upon the death of the father,, his son, Nathaniel 
Niles, who had occupied the farm with his father, 
became the owner, who lived upon the farm until 
his death in 1852, at eighty-seven years of age. 

Franklin Strait, another of the early settlers, 
came from Rhode Island in 1797 ; he brought his 
family, and drove an ox-team. He first settled on 
the farm now owned by Enos Thayer, where he 
lived until 1808, when he exchanged his farm with 
Asa Thayer, another of the early comers, for the 
property at West Oneonta where the hotel now 
stands. He enlarged the house that then stood 
upon the ground, took out a license, and opened 
" Strait's Tavern," on the Oxford turnpike, one of 
the old landmarks for many years; he died in 1822. 
Two of his sons, Rufus and Alvinza Strait, are now 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 59 

living. Before this property had come into the 
possession of Thayer, it had been occupied by Dan- 
iel Lawrence, father of Lewis Lawrence, of Utica, 
and where Lewis Lawrence was born. 

Robert Cook settled early upon the farm owned 
at present by Hammond Cook. At the time of 
his coming the Indians were yet frequent visitors. 
One day, as the story is, Cook was at work in the 
field, his wife being alone in the house, an Indian 
called, and finding her alone, brandished his knife, 
and made some terrible threats, frightening her 
almost to death. Just at this time Cook appeared ; 
the Indian took his departure precipitately. Cook 
seized his gun and pursued him. Be returned after 
a little time, and the Indian never troubled them- 
more. 

The place where Daniel Hodge now lives was 
first occupied by Samuel Stephen. His father John 
Stephen, made a settlement at Laurens before the 
Revolutionary war. 

The Sleepers were from near Burlington, New 
Jersey. During the war they became alarmed at 
the inroads of the tories and Indians, and returned 
to New Jersey. On their way back, they passed 
through Cherry Valley the day before the massa- 
cre. They returned to the settlement after the war. 
John Sleeper had several sons. One, Nehemiah 
Sleeper, built a mill below Laurens on the Otego 



60 THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 

creek, which was afterwards known as Boyd's mill. 
Samuel Sleeper took up several hundred acres of 
land, of which the farms of Daniel Hodge and Hor- 
ace White formed a part. He built a grist-mill and 
saw-mill on theOtego creek, just below the covered 
bridge, this side (east) of West Oneonta. He was 
said to have been an active business man, and was 
quite a noted surveyor. He sold his property after 
some years to one David Smith, and went to Strouds- 
burgh. Pa., and thence to Ohio. His oldest son, 
Ephraim Sleeper, married Jane Niles, daughter of 
Nathaniel Niles, and remained in the neighbor- 
hood. The latter died about twelve years ago at 
West Oneonta, at an advanced age. 

Other persons are mentioned by the old residents 
as being among the early settlers. Samuel Green 
occupied a part of the farm now owned by Joseph 
Bull. A man named Ticknor, another part of the 
same farm. One Ogden lived where Joseph Taber 
now lives, about whom a few stories are current in 
the neighborhood. At one time a company of In- 
dians was encamped at the mouth of the Otego 
creek, engaged in making baskets and trinkets of 
various kinds. Ogden visited them for the pur- 
pose of getting a pair of silver shoe-buckles made 
by an Indian who was skilled in the art. It so 
happened that he had not silver enough to make 
the buckles. Two or three of the Indians left sud- 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 61 

denly, and after having been absent a short time, 
returned, bringing a handful of silver. Ogden in- 
ferred from this that there must be a silver mine 
not far away, but he was never able to find it. — A 
deer^ often came around his house ; he shot at it 
repeatedly, but was unable to hit it. An old wom- 
an lived not far away, who was called a witch; he 
finally suspected that she had something to do with 
the deer ; he procured a silver bullet, which he put 
in his gun, and next time the deer appeared he fired 
at it, wounding it badly, but it escaped; he soon 
learned, however, that the old woman was badly 
hurt.t 

*The same story is told of other hunters and other witches. 
fThe author is indebted to Mr. N. N. BuH for the sketch relating to 
WestOneonta. 



CHAPTER V. 

'pHE first church organizatioa in town was eff'ect- 
ed by the Presbyterians. The first meeting was 
held at the house of Fredrick Brown, January 24, 
1800, when John Houghtaling, Henry Scramling, 
John VanDerWerker and James Dietz were 
chosen elders ; William Morenus, David Scram- 
ling, Aaron Barnes, and James Quackenbush were 
chosen as deacons. The following are the names 
of the ministers of the church with dates of service : 
Wm. Fisher, 1823-33 ; Wm. Clark, 1833-37 ; Jos. 
W. Paddock, 1837-42 - Fordyce Harrington, 1813 
-45 ; Gaius M. Blodgett, 1845. — [Reorganization.] 
Eliphalet M. Spencer, 1849-52 ; Wm. B. Christo- 
pher, 1852-54 ; Wm. Baldwin, 1854-62; Geo. 0. 
Phelps, 1863-69; H. H. Allen, 1869— 

The next church organization was by the Metho- 
dist Episcopals. The first steps towards forming 
the society were taken by Nathan Bennett, Silas 
Washburn, David T. Evans, David Fairchild, and 
David T. Clark. This society had no house of 
worship for many years, and held their meetings 
in the village school house. The first church edi- 
fice was built in 1844. In 1868-69 a new and 
large meeting house was built and finished at a cost 



THE niSTORY OF ONEONTA. 63 

of $12,000. Rev. George Elliott and Rev. Wm. 
McDonald were the first preachers. Subsequent 
ministers have been : Rev. C. G. Robinson, 1854— 
56 ; Rev. ^Y. G. Queal, 1856-58 ; Rev. S. M. Stone, 
1858-59; Rev. D.L. Pendell, 1859-61 ; Rev. Geo. 
Parsons, 1861-63 ; Rev. P. Y. Huj^hston, 1863-65 ; 
Rev. H. N.YanDusen, 1865-67; Rev, R. W. Peebles, 
1867-70 ; Rev. Austin Griffin, 1870-72 ; Rev. L 
N.Pardee, 1872-75 ; Rev. W. B. Westlake, 1875- 
78 ; Rev. Y. Z. Smith, 1878-79 ; Rev. A. B. 
Richardson, 1879-82; Rev. D. C. Olmstead, 
1882—. 

The First Baptist society was organized April 
6, 1833. At a meeting called for that purpose, 
David Yager was chosen moderator and James 
Slade clerk. April 24, 1833, a council was held, 
of which Elder Alex. Smith, of Franklin, was mod- 
erator, and Elder Kingsley, of Meredith, clerk. 
The pastors have been Rev, D. B. Crane, 1833-35 ; 
Rev. John Smith, 1836-48 ; Rev. H. Clark, 1848- 
49 ; Rev. A. B, Earle, 1849-53 ; Rev. E. West- 
cott, 1854-57 ; Rev. John Smith, 1858-65 ; Rev. 
A. Reynolds, 1865-70 ; Rev. Geo. R. Burnside, 
1871-74 ; Rev. H. Brotherton, 1874-80 ; Rev. P. 
D. Root, 1880-82 ; Rev. E. D. Clough, 1883—. 

The Free Baptist church society was formed at 
the Emmons school house Feb. 25, 1856.^ The 

*A Free Baptist church had been built at the Plains many years 
before. 



64 THE niSTOEY OF ONEONTA. 

council consisted of Rev. A. Wing, D. Green, O. 
T. Moulton, and laymen Joseph Jenks and Harvey 
Mackey. The meeting house was built in 1857. 
The pastors have been, Rev. 0. T. Moulton, 1856- 
61 ; Rev. H. Strickland, 1862 ; Rev. E. Crowel, 
1864-68; Rev. G. P. Ramsey, 1868-72 ; Rev. 0. 
T. Moulton, 1872-75 ; Rev. Peter Scramling, 
1875 ; Rev. M. C. Brown, 1875-78 ; Rev. D. C. 
Wheeler, 1878 ; Rev. David Boyd, 1880-83 ; Rev. 
C. A. Gleason, 1883—. 

The first Episcopal services were held in 1839, 
by the Rev. Andrew Hall, a missionary to Oneonta 
and Otego. At first the society met in the school- 
house of the village, and afterwards built a chapel 
on the lot now occupied by a part of the Central 
Hotel. The clergy have been as follows : Rev. 
Andrew Hall, 1839 ; Rev. Stephen Parker, 1855 ; 
Rev. D. S. Tuttle, 1864-65 ; Rev. E. N. Goddard, 
1865 ; Rev. Mr. Foote and Rev. Mr. Ferguson, 
1866-67 ; Rev. Mr. Lighthipe, 1870 ; Rev. Mr. 
Fitzgerald, 1873-74 ; Rev. J. H. Smith, 1874 ; 
Rev. J. B. Colhoun, 1875-78 ; Rev. J. B. Hubbs, 
1880-81 ; Rev. C. D.Flagler, 1882—. The society 
was organized under the name of St. James church, 
April 7, 1870. 

The " First Universalist Society of Oneonta " 
was formed Dec. 12, 1877. The meeting house 
was built in 1878-79. The pastors have been 



THE HISTORY OF OXEONTA. 65 

Rev. L. F. Porter, 1877-81; Rev. H. Kirke 
White, 1882—. 

The Catholic society now rminljcrs about three 
hundred. Services have been conducted hereto- 
fore by Rev. J. J. Brosnahan, of Col)leskiil, till 
July, 1883, when the Bishop created a new parish 
at this place and appointed Rev. James H. 
Maney (of St. Mary's Church, Albany), who is 
now the resident pastor. The parish under the 
charge of the Rev. Mr. Maney extends from the 
Cooperstown Junction to the Harpersville Tunnel. 
This society is about to erect a church edifice on a 
lot already purchased for that purpose. 

The " Oneonta Union School'' was organized in 
1867. The sum of $5,000 was first voted for the 
purpose of building a schoolhouse, and afterwards 
the sum was increased to $7,500. The building 
was finished and school opened in 1868 with Wil- 
ber F. Saxton as principal. Mr. Saxton resigned 
his position in 1870, and was then succeeded by 
Nathaniel N. Bull as principal. In 1873 the 
needs of the school were met by the building of a 
smaller schoolhouse in the lower part of the dis- 
trict. In 1874 and in 1880 the main school building 
was enlarged to accommodate the increased atten- 
dance of scholars. An academic department was 
organized in 1874. The school is attended by 
about six hundred pupils, and twelve teachers are 



THE niSTOEY OF ONEONTA. 



employed. Mr. Bull is still the efficient principal, 
and his labor is shared hy competent assistants. 

The business industries and enterprises of the 
village consist of a number of large dry goods 
and clothing stores, several shoe stores, nearly a 
dozen grocery and provision stores, two or three 
bakeries, confectionery establishments, flour and 
feed stores, several builders' machine shops, three 
saw mills, three grist mills, furniture stores, three 
large hardware stores, the railroad machine shops, 
round-houses, carriage factories, coopers' and black- 
smith shops, three drug stores, two well-equipped 
printing offices, each of which issues a carefully 
edited and well patronized newspaper — Herald 
and Democrat and Oneonfa Press. There are two 
banks— the " Wilber National " and " The First Na- 
tional " — both of which are doing a large business 
and are under prudent management. There are a 
dozen or more lawyers and as many physicians. 
Three roomy hotels care for and furnish entertain- 
ment to the way-faring public, and another hotel 
is in course of construction. 

The village is rapidly growing, and new indus- 
tries are multiplying. A desirable water power 
could be furnished to drive the wheels of a large 
manufactory — a subject that must sooner or later 
attract the attention of some capitalist. Well- 
shaded streets and well-kept roadways add to the 



THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA. 67 

attractions of the village, while its suiTOundings of 
cultivated helds — of hill-side and plain — of wooded 
slopes and mountains— render the scenery as grand 
and diversified as can be found in the Susquehanna 
vallev. 




U 



♦-♦ — • 

Herald and Democrat, 

Oneonta, N. Y. 

R REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPER, 



D 



EVOTED to the interests of Otsego 



County, of the Second Assen:ibly District, 



and of Oneonta in particular. 



The most thorough local and general 



newspaper in the county. 



PU«OS„^^OWEEK.V, ^J_QQ p^^ y^^^f 



BY- 



YAGER^ 4& I^^II^CHII^D 



W. L. & R. BROWN 



-DEALERS IN- 




OTOYEB, lAWeES. 



ENGLISH GEfRjMJ.N & AMEmCJJ\' 



CUTIilEH 



PLUMBING 5ND GflS FITTING. ' 



